AboutDavid Richardson Expertise Adult heart function and disease. Not very good about children lesss than 12. Hypertension is o.k. Heart rhythm a special interest.
Experience Certified in cardiology by the American Board of Internal Medicine. Was chairman of division of cardiology at the Medical College of Virginia. Am now mostly retired.
Organizations Fellow of American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology and member of American Physiological Society..
Publications Circulation, American Heart Journal, Hypertension.
Education/Credentials M.D. from Harvard Medical School. Residency training at Yale Uhniversity School of Medicine and Medical College of Virginia.
Awards and Honors Gold Heartt Award from American Heart Association in 1995.
Question Hi i am really worried. for the past few weeks ive been expierencing wierd symptoms thatclearly point to a heart problem.went to doc and they did an echocardiogram and said my heart was totally fine but im gettin a chest xray and ekg on tuesday.for the past few days ive been concerned tho pretty scary symptoms for a 13 year old!i meen mumbness in a small part of right bicep small part of numbness in back where a bump is numb. ive had perioids of pretty bad shortness of breath and my neck will sorta get tight slash numb. right now tho im real worried theres a pain in my right arm between shoulder and elbow clos to elbow. slso ive had nausea off and on today i really hope its not a heart attack cus ive had this for qwhile! ive also had many palpitations....and real bad anxiety but these things will come on when im tottaly not worried..what could t be please get back asap!
Answer DEAR SAM,
The most likely cause of pain like yours is cramping of the muscles in the chest wall and arms. If you can modify the pain, make it better or worse, by pressing on the area that hurts, then you have proven that the pain is coming from your muscles. Muscle pain is a nuisance but no threat to life or health. Your age and echo prove that your heart is not causing the pains. Numbness may be the result of over breathing. Pay attention to your breathing and breathe slowly and shallowly and see if that helps the numbness.
